Commission opinion

of 11 December 2001

concerning the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from the decommissioning and dismantling of the ASTRA research reactor located in Seibersdorf in Austria, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty

(2001/C 362/04)

(only the German text is authentic)

On 15 May 2001, the European Commission received from the Government of Austria, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, general data relating to the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from the decommissioning and dismantling of the ASTRA research reactor.

On the basis of these data and additional information subsequently provided by the Austrian Government, and following consultations with the group of experts, the Commission has drawn up the following opinion:

(a) The distance between the plant and the closest Member State border (with the Federal Republic of Germany) is 250 km, the nearest territories of applicant countries are about 30 km (Hungary) and 60 km (Slovak Republic).

(b) Under normal operating conditions, the discharges of liquid and gaseous effluents will not cause an exposure of the population in other Member States significant from the point view of health.

(c) Solid radioactive waste arising from the decommissioning and dismantling of the ASTRA research reactor will be stored on site until 2012. The experts note that there is as yet no solution for final storage of this radioactive waste. The release of solid material from dismantling of the ASTRA research reactor for recycling or reuse is controlled in such a way that it will not give rise to any significant effect, from the point of view of health, on the population of another Member State. The experts note however that clearance levels should be set in accordance with Community guidance ensuring compliance with the clearance criteria in the Basic Safety Standards (Directive 96/29/Euratom).

(d) In the event of unplanned discharges of radioactive waste which may follow an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the General Data, the doses likely to be received by the population in other Member States would not be significant from the point of view of health.

In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from the decommissioning and dismantling of the ASTRA research reactor, located in Seibersdorf in Austria, both in normal dismantling operation and in the event of an accident as considered in the General Data, is not liable to result in radioactive contamination, significant from the point of view of health, of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State.